Portable changing table

ABSTRACT

A portable apparatus for changing a baby includes two frames pivotally connected together. The frames may have legs extending therefrom to support the frames. A textile layer extends over the frames as a work surface for changing the baby. The frames are folded toward each other for storage and transport.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a portable apparatus for changing the diapersor other soiled clothing items of an infant or toddler.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During traveling, the inventor of the present invention found that somerestaurant and clothing store restrooms did not have changing tables.The inventor was inconvenienced by this and realized that a person inneed of a changing table was forced to either stoop down on the floorand lay their child across their lap or lay their child on a countertop.However, neither of these surfaces is satisfactory for hygienic reasonsand also for the comfort of the child.

In the conventional portable baby changing apparatuses, the surface onwhich the child is to be laid is rigid, which is uncomfortable for thechild. These surfaces are also of a material that is designed to besubstantially impenetrable to whatever fluids may be discharged thereon.

A problem with such a surface is that it is difficult to clean and thematerial used for these surfaces is often very dense, which makes tablesof this type relatively heavy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the priorart, or alleviate the shortcomings of the prior art at least in part.

Another object of the invention is to have a simple changing table thatis easy to transport and that is more hygienic than the prior artchanging tables.

Yet another object of the invention is for the invention to take theplace of a person having to fashion a changing table using their lap,non-sterile counter, or the uncomfortable quarters of a car. This tablecan be used on any sturdy structure, including the floor, and easilystored in a baby's diaper bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments thereof, given with reference to the accompanying drawingfigures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view showing a first embodiment of a changing table ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top view with the changing table of FIG. 1 having a worksurface attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is side view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is and end view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is side view with the table folded onto itself.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-6 show a table 10 having first and second frames 15, 20. Theterm “frame” as used in the invention is “an open structure for encasingor bordering”.

The frame can be made from aluminum or any other metal, wood or plastic,such as polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene, butis not limited to the type of material and any substantially rigidmaterial could be used.

The first frame 15 has first and second sides 16, 17 and first andsecond ends 18, 19. The second frame 20 has first and second sides 21,22 and first and second ends 23, 24. In an open, ready for useembodiment, the table is between about 25 and 35 inches long, preferablyabout 29 inches long. In addition, the table is between about 12 and 20inches wide, preferably about 15 inches wide and between about 5 and 20inches high, preferably between about 7 and 12 inches high and morepreferably about 7 inches high in an embodiment with legs unfolded.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second frames 15, 20 arepivotally connected to each other. The connection may be a hinge 25 asseen in FIG. 2 or any other hinge structure that allows the first frameto be pivotally connected to the second frame.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, a textile layer 30 is connectable to the firstside 16 of the first frame 15 and the first side 21 of the second frame20. The textile layer 30 extends over the frame and is then connectableto the second side 17 of the first frame 15 and the second side 22 ofthe second frame 20 as a work surface of the table 10. The textile layer30 is any machine washable fabric that is formed by weaving, felting,knitting, crocheting, or otherwise manufacturing natural or syntheticfibers, including but not limited to cotton, linen, polyester, rayon,silk or any combination of these or other known textile materials.

A machine washable support 32 may be used in conjunction with or as analternative to the textile layer. The support 32 may also be a textilelayer and is preferably a sufficient thickness or a semi-rigid materialthat has sufficient rigidity to support the baby, while still beingsubstantially flexible. The terms “baby” and “infant” are used throughthe specification and are not limited to any particular age of child andinclude any age child that is still in diapers or needs soiled clothingchanged by a parent or other person.

In the presently preferred embodiment, the textile layer 30 and/orsupport 32 is releasably connected to the frames 15, 20 in any knowmanner including snaps, buttons, double-sided tape or by rings thatconnect to hooks on the frames. Preferably, the connection is made usinghook and loop type fasteners. The textile layer 30 and/or supportextends over an entirety or substantially an entirety of the top surfaceof the frames 15, 20.

In the presently preferred embodiment as seen in FIG. 4, the table 10includes legs 40, 45, 50 and 55 that are detachable from the frames 15,20. Leg 40 connects to the first end 17 of the first frame 15 and leg 45connects to the second end 18 of the first frame 15. Leg 50 connects tothe first end 23 of the second frame 20 and leg 55 connects to thesecond end 24 of the second frame 20.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the legs 40, 45, 50, 55 eachcomprise two leg portions that are pivotally connected to each other,but a single leg portion is contemplated by the invention. Leg 40comprises leg portions 41 and 42. Leg 45 comprises leg portions 46 and47. Leg 50 comprises leg portions 51 and 52. Leg 55 comprises legportions 56 and 57. In a preferred embodiment, the respective legportions 41, 42; 46, 47; 51, 52; 56, 57 are connected at theirmidpoints. The legs are movable between a folded position as seen inFIG. 1 to an unfolded position as seen in FIG. 4

In use, the table 10 is foldable from a first, open position where thefirst ends of the frames are contacting each other and the frames arecoplanar, as seen in FIG. 1, to a second, closed position whereinsubstantially an entirety of each of the frames are contacting eachother, as seen in FIG. 6. To move from the open to the closed position,the unhinged ends (second ends) of the frames are rotated towards eachother until they are touching.

In a preferred embodiment, the legs will fold up and be within theboundary of the frames 15, 20 so the table can fit across a sink orother raised surface that does not require the legs. A locking device 60may be used to allow the legs to lock in place. The same locking device60 may be used to lock the legs in the folded or unfolded positions andmay be a pin or peg as seen in FIG. 2 that goes through openings(unnumbered in FIG. 5) in the legs and into aligned openings (unnumberedin FIG. 5) on the side of the frame. A chain may be connected to the pinto prevent the pin from being lost. The locking device may also be apivot-type locking device connected to one leg portion and that attachesto or presses against another leg portion of a leg or any othermechanical means for locking the legs in either a folded or unfoldedposition including, but not limited to, the legs remaining in place dueto friction between the legs and/or an interference fit between the endsof the legs and the inside walls of the frame.

In conjunction with the table, the present invention also contemplates acover that may be used to store the table when the table is not in use.In addition, straps and handles can be placed on the table and/or thecover for convenient and easy carrying.

While the present invention has been described in connection withvarious preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that thoseembodiments are provided merely to illustrate the invention, and shouldnot be used as a pretext to limit the scope of protection conferred bythe true scope and spirit of the appended claims.

1. A portable apparatus for use in changing an infant, said apparatuscomprising: a first frame having first and second sides and first andsecond ends; a second frame having first and second sides and first andsecond ends, said first end of said second frame being pivotallyconnected to a first end of said first frame; and a textile layerremovably connectable to said first side of said first frame and saidfirst side of said second frame, and extending across said first andsecond frames and removably connectable to respective said second sidesof said first and second frames.
 2. The portable apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising hooks and loops for connecting said materiallayer to said frames.
 3. The portable apparatus as claimed in claim 1,further comprising legs connectable to said first and second ends ofboth said first and second frames.
 4. The portable apparatus as claimedin claim 3, wherein each of said legs comprises first and second legportions pivotally connected together.
 5. The portable apparatus asclaimed in claim 5, further comprising a locking device to lockrespective ones of said legs in an unfolded position.
 6. The portableapparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said locking device locks saidrespective ones of said legs in a folded position.
 7. The portableapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is movablebetween a first open position, wherein said first and second frames aresubstantially coplanar and a second closed position, wherein said firstand second frames are stacked on top of one another.
 8. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said apparatus is between about 25 and 35inches long, and between about 12 and 20 inches wide, in said openposition.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said apparatusis about 15 inches wide and about 29 inches long in the open position.10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said apparatus is about14.5 inches long in said closed position.
 11. A portable apparatus foruse in changing an infant, said apparatus comprising: at least one framehaving first and second sides and first and second ends; and a textilelayer releasably connected to said first side and extending across saidframe and releasably connected to said second side of said frame. 12.The portable apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising afirst pair of legs pivotally connectable to said first end and a secondpair of legs pivotally connectable to said second end.
 13. The portableapparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first pair of legscomprises first and second leg portions that are pivotally connected toeach other and said second pair of legs comprises first and second legportions that are pivotally connected to each other.
 14. A portableapparatus for use in changing an infant, said apparatus comprising: afirst frame having first and second sides and first and second ends; asecond frame having first and second sides and first and second ends,said first end of said second frame being pivotally connected to a firstend of said first frame; a textile layer connectable to said first sideof said first frame and said first side of said second frame using hookand loop fasteners, and extending across said first and second framesand connectable to respective said second sides of said first and secondframes using hook and loop fasteners; and plural pairs of legs pivotallyconnected to respective said first and second ends of both said firstand second frames, each of said pairs of legs comprises first and secondleg portions pivotally connected together, said pairs of legs beingmovable between a first, folded position within a respective one of saidfirst and second frames and a second, extended position for resting on asupport surface.
 15. The portable apparatus as claimed in claim 14,further comprising a locking device to lock respective pairs of saidlegs in at least one of said folded position and said unfolded position.16. The portable device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the lockingdevice is a pin extending through a slot in a respective one of saidlegs and mating with a corresponding slot in one of said first andsecond frames.
 17. The portable apparatus as claimed in claim 14,further comprising means for locking at least one of said legs in atleast one of said folded position and said unfolded position.